Following last year’s “Beloved Community” conference, WSCADV executive director, Nan Stoops continued to engage coalition members in dialogue and practice that have emerged from the Move to End Violence.

“I have learned so much from each of you about what it means to work and live in beloved community. To be curious, to speak authentically and listen intently, to be both scientific and creative, to have kindness for strangers, to hunger for justice, to dance and laugh and play, to have moments of stillness, to believe in the impossible, and to deeply value all women and girls, to the last girl.– Nan Stoops”

The conference plenaries focused on the three pivots that the Movement Makers have identified as key shifts the movement needs to make in order to truly end violence against girls and women:

Proactive: Move from a reactive to proactive; pursue a bold vision for change.

Interconnected: Move from a fragmented field working in silos to an interconnected movement that has exponentially greater impact.

Social change: Move from a primary focus on meeting the immediate needs of people impacted by violence to an integrated approach that combines services and social change.

Throughout these sessions, Movement Makers incorporated the practice of Tai Ji—a physical practice that was – and continues to be – a centerpiece of their cohort experience. “This physical practice helps remind us that we do not work in isolation, that we belong to something bigger and more powerful, and that our voice and our determination give life to our vision.”

In the plenary focused on social change, Celinda Lake of Lake Research shed light on the opinion environment—what (and why) our community members really think about violence against girls and women. In the coming weeks, thanks to WSCADV, we’ll share a video of Celinda’s presentation.

Movement Makers also led a variety of workshops during the conference: physical practice, connections between domestic workers and domestic and sexual violence, role of men in prevention, neighborhood organizing as a way to eliminate violence against girls and women, and Girls for Gender Equity’s “Hey Shorty” approach to challenging sexual harassment in school culture.

According to Nan and the other Movement Makers, the energy at the conference was palpable. Advocates from all over Washington came together to work hard, to celebrate, to envision, and to be. . . more beloved, more community.

We know our reality during COVID-19 changes every day in really complicated ways, and so, you can count on our COVID-19 Resources page (http://ow.ly/7XhT50zOntM) to be an ongoing resource to access support and/or support your communities and organizations during this time.